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United States V. Sisson (1969)

 

Document 1

From: John M. Harlan
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: October 6th, 1969
Action: Memorandum Opinion
This refers to a memorandum opinion draft

Document 2

From: John M. Harlan
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: October 8th, 1969
Action: Cover Memo to Order
This indicates a cover memo to a draft order that does not dispose of the case on its merits and does not dismiss the case

Document 3

From: William O. Douglas
To: John M. Harlan
Copied: None
On: October 8th, 1969
Action: Join Order
Memos where a justice joins an order if order is not on merits of case. If an order disposes of a case, a joinder is coded 300.

Document 4

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: John M. Harlan
Copied: None
On: October 8th, 1969
Action: Join Order
Memos where a justice joins an order if order is not on merits of case. If an order disposes of a case, a joinder is coded 300.

Document 5

From: John M. Harlan
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: October 8th, 1969
Action: Order
This refers to a draft order

Document 6

From: Byron R. White
To: John M. Harlan
Copied: Conference
On: October 8th, 1969
Action: Join Order
Memos where a justice joins an order if order is not on merits of case. If an order disposes of a case, a joinder is coded 300.

Document 7

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: John M. Harlan
Copied: Conference
On: October 9th, 1969
Action: Join Order
Memos where a justice joins an order if order is not on merits of case. If an order disposes of a case, a joinder is coded 300.

Document 8

From: Hugo. L. Black
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: February 6th, 1970
Action: Propose Disposition in Case (Vote in a Case)
DIG (dismiss cert as improvidently granted); want to reach merits instead of DIG; would not DIG; affirm; reverse; remand; vacate; moot; court lacks jurisdiction; conference vote; withhold vote for now; defer vote; adhere to conference vote; initial vote in case; change conference vote; memo asking how others' vote on disposition

Document 9

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: February 6th, 1970
Action: Propose Disposition in Case (Vote in a Case)
DIG (dismiss cert as improvidently granted); want to reach merits instead of DIG; would not DIG; affirm; reverse; remand; vacate; moot; court lacks jurisdiction; conference vote; withhold vote for now; defer vote; adhere to conference vote; initial vote in case; change conference vote; memo asking how others' vote on disposition

Document 10

From: William O. Douglas
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: None
On: February 7th, 1970
Action: Propose Disposition in Case (Vote in a Case)
DIG (dismiss cert as improvidently granted); want to reach merits instead of DIG; would not DIG; affirm; reverse; remand; vacate; moot; court lacks jurisdiction; conference vote; withhold vote for now; defer vote; adhere to conference vote; initial vote in case; change conference vote; memo asking how others' vote on disposition

Document 11

From: Byron R. White
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: Conference
On: February 9th, 1970
Action: Memo About Opinion Assignment
This excludes memos that assign the opinion (see Code 606), but includes memos where a justice expresses the view that a case should be reassigned or a response to a majority opinion assignment; justice may request that majority opinion not be assigned to that justice; a justice may question why the opinion was not assigned; a justice (perhaps the Chief Justice) may tell a justice to assign the opinion; a memo may discuss not assigning the opinion to any justice

Document 12

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: February 10th, 1970
Action: Will Write Dissenting Opinion
A memo where a justice states that he or she will circulate a dissenting opinion draft, including that a dissenting opinion will be out soon or that a revised draft of the dissenting opinion will be circulated; this also applies to statements responding to dissent assignments like will be glad to write dissent, self-assignment of dissent (e.g., we are in dissent and I will write it), or requesting permission to write dissent (e.g., is it ok if I write a dissent)
Action: Memo About Opinion Assignment
This excludes memos that assign the opinion (see Code 606), but includes memos where a justice expresses the view that a case should be reassigned or a response to a majority opinion assignment; justice may request that majority opinion not be assigned to that justice; a justice may question why the opinion was not assigned; a justice (perhaps the Chief Justice) may tell a justice to assign the opinion; a memo may discuss not assigning the opinion to any justice

Document 13

From: Hugo. L. Black
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: February 26th, 1970
Action: Majority Opinion Assignment
This may be an assignment of either the majority opinion or a memorandum opinion; memo may state that a justice has agreed to undertake the opinion of the Court; memo reassigns the case

Document 14

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 5th, 1970
Action: Memorandum Opinion
This refers to a memorandum opinion draft

Document 15

From: William O. Douglas
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: None
On: March 6th, 1970
Action: May Join Memorandum Opinion (Author is not Assigned Justice)
Memo stating that the justice agrees, but does not join, the memorandum opinion (or per curiam opinion) written by a justice who was not assigned the opinion (e.g., agree and will join if it becomes opinion; agree with suggested order). The identity of the justice whose opinion is endorsed is located in the JOINED variable.

Document 16

From: William O. Douglas
To: Byron R. White
Copied: None
On: March 10th, 1970
Action: May Join Memorandum Opinion (Author is Assigned Justice)
Memo stating that the justice agrees, but does not join, the memorandum opinion drafted by the assigned opinion author (e.g., could go along with memorandum opinion; agrees generally with memorandum opinion; agree tentatively with memorandum opinion; will join memorandum opinion if it becomes majority opinion)

Document 17

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: March 10th, 1970
Action: Memorandum Opinion
This refers to a memorandum opinion draft

Document 18

From: John M. Harlan
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 20th, 1970
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 19

From: William O. Douglas
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 21st, 1970
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 20

From: Hugo. L. Black
To: John M. Harlan
Copied: Conference
On: May 25th, 1970
Action: Concur in Judgment at Foot
This refers to a letter where a justice asks that a concurrence in judgment or the result be noted at the foot of an opinion, including a concur in judgment or result in part at foot

Document 21

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: John M. Harlan
Copied: Conference
On: May 26th, 1970
Action: Join Majority Opinion
Memos where a justice joins the majority opinion includes please join me; I agree; I am still with you; I acquiesce; I will go along; I dissent but will be silent; graveyard join or dissent. This code includes join of memorandum opinions if it is written by the assigned author, orders if it disposes of case, decrees, per curiam opinions. It also includes statements that the justice joins, but subject to what others might write.

Document 22

From: John M. Harlan
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: May 26th, 1970
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 23

From: Potter Stewart
To: John M. Harlan
Copied: Conference
On: May 27th, 1970
Action: Join Majority Opinion
Memos where a justice joins the majority opinion includes please join me; I agree; I am still with you; I acquiesce; I will go along; I dissent but will be silent; graveyard join or dissent. This code includes join of memorandum opinions if it is written by the assigned author, orders if it disposes of case, decrees, per curiam opinions. It also includes statements that the justice joins, but subject to what others might write.

Document 24

From: William O. Douglas
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 12th, 1970
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 25

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 13th, 1970
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 26

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 13th, 1970
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 27

From: William O. Douglas
To: Byron R. White
Copied: None
On: June 17th, 1970
Action: Join Dissent
Memos where a justice states that they join a dissenting opinion, including joining the dissent in part, joining a dissent from denial of cert, or joining a dissent at foot. The identity of the dissenting opinion author who receives the join is located in the JOINED variable.

Document 28

From: William O. Douglas
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: None
On: June 17th, 1970
Action: Join Dissent
Memos where a justice states that they join a dissenting opinion, including joining the dissent in part, joining a dissent from denial of cert, or joining a dissent at foot. The identity of the dissenting opinion author who receives the join is located in the JOINED variable.

Document 29

From: Byron R. White
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: Conference
On: June 18th, 1970
Action: Join Dissent
Memos where a justice states that they join a dissenting opinion, including joining the dissent in part, joining a dissent from denial of cert, or joining a dissent at foot. The identity of the dissenting opinion author who receives the join is located in the JOINED variable.

Document 30

From: Thurgood Marshall
To: John M. Harlan
Copied: Conference
On: June 18th, 1970
Action: Join Majority Opinion
Memos where a justice joins the majority opinion includes please join me; I agree; I am still with you; I acquiesce; I will go along; I dissent but will be silent; graveyard join or dissent. This code includes join of memorandum opinions if it is written by the assigned author, orders if it disposes of case, decrees, per curiam opinions. It also includes statements that the justice joins, but subject to what others might write.

Document 31

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Byron R. White
Copied: Conference
On: June 19th, 1970
Action: Join Dissent
Memos where a justice states that they join a dissenting opinion, including joining the dissent in part, joining a dissent from denial of cert, or joining a dissent at foot. The identity of the dissenting opinion author who receives the join is located in the JOINED variable.

Document 32

From: John M. Harlan
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 19th, 1970
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 33

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 20th, 1970
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 34

From: John M. Harlan
To: Warren E. Burger
Copied: Conference
On: June 22nd, 1970
Action: Announcements of Opinion
This includes memos about the timing of a decision announcement (e.g., can we hold this case for a week; opinion should be handed down tomorrow; opinion not ready for case to come down; take as much time as you need); memos about the pace of opinion writing (e.g., a justice’s delay in a case or apologizing for a delay or holding up another justice); memo requesting that a justice make an announcement regarding an opinion

Document 35

From: Harry A. Blackmun
To: John M. Harlan
Copied: Conference
On: June 22nd, 1970
Action: Proposes Disposition of Held Cases
Memo lists cases held for an opinion and gives cert votes or votes on the merits for the held cases; justice may state that held cases should be discussed at conference

Document 36

From: Potter Stewart
To: John M. Harlan
Copied: Conference
On: June 22nd, 1970
Action: Proposes Disposition of Held Cases
Memo lists cases held for an opinion and gives cert votes or votes on the merits for the held cases; justice may state that held cases should be discussed at conference

Document 37

From: William J. Brennan, Jr.
To: John M. Harlan
Copied: Conference
On: June 22nd, 1970
Action: Proposes Disposition of Held Cases
Memo lists cases held for an opinion and gives cert votes or votes on the merits for the held cases; justice may state that held cases should be discussed at conference

Document 38

From: John M. Harlan
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 22nd, 1970
Action: Proposes Disposition of Held Cases
Memo lists cases held for an opinion and gives cert votes or votes on the merits for the held cases; justice may state that held cases should be discussed at conference

Document 39

From: John M. Harlan
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 22nd, 1970
Action: Proposes Disposition of Held Cases
Memo lists cases held for an opinion and gives cert votes or votes on the merits for the held cases; justice may state that held cases should be discussed at conference

Document 40

From: Warren E. Burger
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 23rd, 1970
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 41

From: John M. Harlan
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 23rd, 1970
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft

Document 42

From: Hugo. L. Black
To: John M. Harlan
Copied: Conference
On: June 24th, 1970
Action: Announcements of Opinion
This includes memos about the timing of a decision announcement (e.g., can we hold this case for a week; opinion should be handed down tomorrow; opinion not ready for case to come down; take as much time as you need); memos about the pace of opinion writing (e.g., a justice’s delay in a case or apologizing for a delay or holding up another justice); memo requesting that a justice make an announcement regarding an opinion

Document 43

From: Byron R. White
To: John M. Harlan
Copied: Conference
On: June 24th, 1970
Action: Proposes Disposition of Held Cases
Memo lists cases held for an opinion and gives cert votes or votes on the merits for the held cases; justice may state that held cases should be discussed at conference

Document 44

From: Byron R. White
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 24th, 1970
Action: Dissenting Opinion
This refers to a dissenting opinion draft, including dissents from denial of certiorari if in opinion form

Document 45

From: William O. Douglas
To: John M. Harlan
Copied: Conference
On: June 25th, 1970
Action: Proposes Disposition of Held Cases
Memo lists cases held for an opinion and gives cert votes or votes on the merits for the held cases; justice may state that held cases should be discussed at conference

Document 46

From: John M. Harlan
To: Conference
Copied: None
On: June 25th, 1970
Action: Majority Opinion
This refers to a majority opinion draft